HND 2 have started their Web Unit. This is a two credit Unit that covers the major aspects of designing for the web, including converting print design for the web, developing web-based layouts, controlling web typography, and of course, CSS.
Smashing Magazine has dozens of articles worth reading to get a perspective on current issues and trends in design for the web. Here are three key ones -
Switch From Print to Web : Where To Start?
Getting Out of the Box - Creative Web Layouts with CSS
Web Design Trends for 2009
There are also 100's of online inspiration galleries you can check out (and in some cases, 'borrow' css from). A great examples is CSS Envy.
Photoshop for the iPhone
21 October 2009
Adobe has released a stripped down version of Photoshop for the iPhone. Its still only available in the US, but has already taken 1 million downloads in less than 2 weeks. Apparently it features some nice touches including:
Basics: Crop, Rotate, and Flip
Color: Exposure, Saturation, Tint, Black and White
Filters: Sketch, Soft Focus
Effects: Vibrant, Pop, Border, Vignette Blur, Warm Vintage, Rainbow, White Glow, Soft Black and White.
You can edit photos in your library and upload them to your account, but not the reverse. Once it is uploaded, you'll need to go to the Flash based Photoshop.com to continue to edit.
But we won't be seeing students (or designers in agencies) ditching their Mac's just yet.
Adobe, recognising the limitations of the app, are only too happy to provide a link to a very funny spoof, where Layers TV announce a full-blown CS3 version, complete with callcentre support:
Basics: Crop, Rotate, and Flip
Color: Exposure, Saturation, Tint, Black and White
Filters: Sketch, Soft Focus
Effects: Vibrant, Pop, Border, Vignette Blur, Warm Vintage, Rainbow, White Glow, Soft Black and White.
You can edit photos in your library and upload them to your account, but not the reverse. Once it is uploaded, you'll need to go to the Flash based Photoshop.com to continue to edit.
But we won't be seeing students (or designers in agencies) ditching their Mac's just yet.
Adobe, recognising the limitations of the app, are only too happy to provide a link to a very funny spoof, where Layers TV announce a full-blown CS3 version, complete with callcentre support:
Looking Back Looking Forward
16 October 2009
With lots of activity on the Mentoring programme, and the HND 2nd Year work placements only a few months away, a number of students have been asking about job prospects for 2010, so it's worth looking back to the early spring to see how the experts were viewing employment prospects at that time.
Back in March, Design Week published an excellent article outlining the current trends in the Graphic Design employment situation. It also included a pdf file detailing average salaries for various job roles, both in London and across the rest of the UK.
Their research showed that there has been a drop in demand for print design, but a steady increase in the need for digital skills and and web-based knowledge.
Obviously its becoming ever-more important to develop good working practices with the digital processes that are delivered during lab sessions. But remember - you still need to be able to generate good ideas, and a quick glance at some of the recent vacancies in the likes of The Drum shows that both print and web-based roles are still out there.
Resources :
The Drum
jobs.stv.tv
Back in March, Design Week published an excellent article outlining the current trends in the Graphic Design employment situation. It also included a pdf file detailing average salaries for various job roles, both in London and across the rest of the UK.
Their research showed that there has been a drop in demand for print design, but a steady increase in the need for digital skills and and web-based knowledge.
Obviously its becoming ever-more important to develop good working practices with the digital processes that are delivered during lab sessions. But remember - you still need to be able to generate good ideas, and a quick glance at some of the recent vacancies in the likes of The Drum shows that both print and web-based roles are still out there.
Resources :
The Drum
jobs.stv.tv